Improved vacuum head attachment and vacuum cleaner

ABSTRACT

A vacuum head (2) including a first brush means (42) and a second brush means (44) each located adjacent an underneath side (6) of the vacuum head (2), motor means (38, 40) for actuating the first brush means (42) to rotate in a first axial direction and for actuating the second brush means (44) in a second axial direction, the second axial direction opposite to the first axial direction, such that, in use, as the vacuum head (2) moves across a surface the first brush means (42) and the second brush means (44) rotate to position debris from the surface towards the centre of the vacuum head (2) prior to assist in the suction of the debris.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an improved vacuum head attachment for avacuum cleaner, an improved vacuum cleaner and an improved method ofvacuuming.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditional vacuum cleaners have a vacuum head which is generally arectangular prism. The vacuum rod attaches towards the middle of thevacuum head lengthwise but protrudes from the surface of the head facingthe user at an angle of about 45° to the floor (see FIG. 1). A typicalmanner in which the device is used for a right-handed person, is to havethe right hand holding the vacuum cleaner at a point where the vacuumhose connects to the vacuum rods and have the left hand located lowerdown the rods towards the vacuum head on the floor. Generally there aretwo rods of equal length that connect the head to the hose. A forwardand backward motion is used to cover the area to be vacuumed and theuser generally moves forward when vacuuming an area. Due to the forwardand backward motion of the vacuuming action, users will generally cleanin an arc around their position before progressing on. As most rooms arerectangular or square, much of the carpet or floor can be missed and istherefore an inefficient way to vacuum the carpet or floor. As a resultof this inefficient action, vacuum cleaners do not work as efficientlyin wider areas, underneath or around obstacles, such as furniture, andhave limited movement. Dictated by the design of conventional vacuumheads and rods that are at an angle of around 40 to 50 degrees withrespect to the ground, the position adopted by the user can be a strainon the body of the user, particularly on the back of the user, if longperiods of vacuuming are performed.

Where powered vacuum heads have been utilised, they generally have asingle brush to assist in bringing debris into the vacuum cleaner,however this does not address the problem with the user's stance nor theinefficient forwards and backwards motion.

The present invention seeks to overcome one or more of the abovedisadvantages by providing a vacuum head and vacuum cleaner that is moreefficient than prior art cleaners, safer and easier to use in both openareas and around obstacles. Due to the inclusion of dual brushes, thepresent invention can lift debris from an area in two opposed directionswith a single sweep leading to quicker and more efficient cleaning ofthe area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a vacuumhead including:

-   -   a first brush means and a second brush means each located        adjacent an underneath side of the vacuum head;    -   motor means for actuating said first brush means to rotate in a        first axial direction and for actuating said second brush means        in a second axial direction, said second axial direction        opposite to said first axial direction;    -   such that, in use, as the vacuum head moves across a surface        said first brush means and said second brush means rotate to        position debris from the surface towards the centre of the        vacuum head prior to suction of the debris.

Preferably, the first brush means is adjacent a first longitudinal sideof the head and said second brush means is adjacent a second andopposite longitudinal side of the head.

The vacuum head may further include a swivel joint at or about thecentre of a top side of the head for connection to a connector means anda handle means, the swivel joint allowing a 360° range of motion aboutan axis through the connector means, the handle means for holding by auser and for conveying debris to be collected from the surface to adebris collection unit.

Preferably in use said handle means extends vertically from the vacuumhead. The first brush means and the second brush means can becylindrical and extend substantially along the longer dimension of thehead.

In an embodiment, the vacuum head is used in a side-to-side motion, withthe movement of the head being substantially perpendicular to the axesof the respective first and second brush means. The vacuum head mayfurther include tube means located at said swivel joint for collectionof the debris. The head may further include a debris collection meansadjacent the tube means for collecting debris from each of the brushmeans.

The head preferably includes a pair of openings located on theunderneath side of the head and in proximity to respective the first andsecond brush means. The vacuum head may further include a pair ofrollers that is adapted to tilt or pivot in order to bias the head toone side depending on the direction of travel of the vacuum head. Themotor means preferably includes a first motor for actuating the firstbrush means and a second motor for actuating the second brush means.

The vacuum head, in use, preferably is moved side to side in adirectional substantially orthogonal to the direction of travel of auser of the vacuum head, such movement enabling the user to use thevacuum head having a substantially upright posture which providesminimal stress on the user's back, head and shoulders.

In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a vacuum cleaningassembly including the vacuum head according to the first aspect andfurther including:

-   -   handle means, with said handle means formed as a series of        connecting shaft or rod sections.

Preferably the handle means extends to about shoulder height of theaverage user.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a vacuumhead including:

-   -   brush means located adjacent an underneath side of the vacuum        head;    -   motor means for actuating said brush means such that a first        portion of said brush means rotates in a first axial direction        and a second portion of said brush means rotates in a second        axial direction, said second axial direction being opposite to        said first axial direction;    -   such that, in use, as the vacuum head moves across a surface        said first portion and said second portion rotate to position        debris from the surface towards the centre of the vacuum head        prior to suction of the debris.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention will hereinafter be described,by way of example only, with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view showing the difference in posture and use of a user ofan existing vacuum cleaner on the left and a vacuum cleaner according toan embodiment of the present invention on the right;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from above of a vacuum head of a vacuumcleaner with a top portion partially removed to show inner components;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from the front of the vacuum head which isa part sectional view along line A-A of FIG. 8;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the side which is part sectionalthrough a plane half way through the vacuum head but orientated at 90°to the line A-A;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view from below of the vacuum head;

FIG. 5B is a part sectional view from above of a vacuum head showing theinternal components in a reverse image compared to the embodiment shownin FIG. 2;

FIG. 5C is a view from underneath of the vacuum head of FIG. 5B;

FIG. 5D is a part sectional view from above of the vacuum head of FIG.5B showing motor means and other internal components;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of air while the vacuumhead is in operation as seen from the left side in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view from above of the vacuum head; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of the vacuum head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a view on the left of a user using atraditional vacuum cleaner and a view on the right of a user using avacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention. Theuser 3 of the traditional cleaner 5 on the left has a bent posture, dueto the design of the vacuum rod being at an angle generally between 40and 50 degrees with respect to the ground 11. For long periods ofvacuuming this can be a strain on the user's back and shoulders. Thevacuum head is moved in a forward and backward direction and in an arc.This is an inefficient method of cleaning as square or rectangular roomswould have parts of the floor left uncleaned. Furthermore, this designcannot easily clean around obstacles due to the shorter length of rods,the limited angle at which the rods can be utilised in relation to thehead and the way the device must be held by the user. Conversely, theview on the right in FIG. 1 shows that the user 7 of the vacuum cleaner9, having a vacuum head according to the embodiment of the remainingFigures, has an upright posture when cleaning in a direction side toside, with the position of the hands reversed when compared to the leftfigure. This provides less stress on the user's back, head and shouldersas most of the cleaning will be done in this position. This is moreefficient when cleaning square or rectangular rooms as the user cansystematically move the vacuum head from side to side rather than in anarc with the prior art cleaners. Furthermore, the present vacuum cleanerand vacuum head can easily clean around obstacles and under furniture,as the head swivels 360 degrees with respect to the vacuum rod and canhave the vacuum rod move downwardly to 45 degrees or any other angelwith respect to the ground, all done in a safe manner By performing asystematic cleaning, including around furniture, this allows an area tobe cleaned more quickly and efficiently than prior systems.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a vacuum head 2 of a vacuum devicehaving a top side 4, an underneath side 6, a front side 8 and a rearside 10, first side 12 and second side 14. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8the vacuum head 2 also has a cover 16 formed in two halves 18 and 20that extends longitudinally across side 4. In FIG. 3 the two longerhalves 18 and 20 of the cover 16 are separated to show the internalcomponents of head 2, while in FIG. 4 the two shorter halves 21, 23,that extend laterally across the top side 4, are separated to show theinternal components of the head 2.

Referring also to FIG. 3 the vacuum head 2 is joined to a handle meansthrough a connection means 22 for connecting the vacuum head 2 with upto three rods or tubes forming the handle means that can be extendibleand telescopic, and provide the user with a means to grip the device.The connection means 22, which can form part of head 2, includes anouter casing 24 surrounding a tube 26. The connector 22 is joined tothree other rod sections (such as those designated by 13 in FIG. 1),generally equal in length such that the overall height of all of the rodsections and connector 22 is equivalent to the shoulder height of theaverage person. The overall length can be adjusted according to theshoulder height of the user through the telescoping rod sections orother means of adjustment. Each of the rod sections make up the handlemeans. The top rod section is then connected through a flexible hose toa debris storage unit and motor of the vacuum cleaner, which alsoprovides the air suction. The lower rod section connects to the top ofconnector 22, which in turn connects to the vacuum head 2 at junction 30which is a swivel joint formed in two sections. The first swivel sectionand first swivel motion allows the connector 22 to be moved to about a45° angle downwardly from the perpendicular by pivoting about the axisconnecting the two motors 38 and 40 with the swivel joint 30 beinglocated at or about the centre of the top side 4 of the head 2. Thesecond swivel section and second swivel motion occurs at swivel points33 that enables the connector 22 to rotate in either clockwise oranti-clockwise directions (360 degree rotation) about an axis throughthe longitudinal direction of connector 22, which is perpendicular tothe axis going through the central axes of motors 38, 40. Generally theconnector 22 is positioned perpendicularly in that it is upright fromthe top side 4 of the head 2 and thus stands in exactly a verticalposition. The swivel joint 30 is able to swivel 360° about an axisthrough the centre of the connector 22 and is able to be moved to abouta 45° angle downwardly from the perpendicular position shown in FIG. 2and FIG. 3, by pivoting about a pivot axis through each of the axialcentres of the motors 38, 40 using a first swivel section 36 on thebottom of the connector 22.

Extending outwardly and downwardly from the swivel joint 30 is a singleor pair of tubes 32 and 34 that allow the passage of air to create avacuum or suction in order to lift dirt and debris from a surface anddeposit it into the debris storage unit of the vacuum cleaner. The upperends of the tubes 32 and 34 may be connected to an intermediate portionor first swivel section 36, which is the first swivel point connected atthe lower end of the interior tube 26.

Motor means, preferably in the form a pair of motors 38 and 40 (FIG. 2)are used to respectively drive a pair of first and second brushes 42 and44 in opposite directions and, specifically referring to FIGS. 5A to 5D,brush 42 is driven in an anti-clockwise direction (looking from the rearside 10) while brush 44 is driven in a clockwise direction (againlooking from the rear side 10). Motor 38 drives an output shaft 46 whichdrives belt 48 which is connected to brush 42 at one end 56 of thecylindrical brush 42. Similarly motor 40 drives an output shaft 52which, through belt 54, connects to oppositely rotating cylindricalbrush 44 at an end 50 of brush 44. As mentioned previously, both rollerbrushes 42 and 44 turn in opposite directions (as shown) under the powerof each of the respective motors 38, 40 so that when the head 2 is movedacross a surface, the cylindrical brushes 42, 44 direct dirt and debrisinto a central debris collection means 58 (FIG. 4), in the form of atray, at which the outer ends of tubes 32 and 34 allow air to suck upthe collected dirt and debris through the connector 22 and the rodsections and eventually into the debris collection unit. The brushes 42,44 are generally about 35 to 45 cms in length. Each brush 42, 44 rotatesin a direction towards the longitudinal centre of the underneath side 6to draw dirt and debris from the top areas of a carpet or floor surface.The debris is moved to the tray 58 which is assisted by curved surfaces63, 65 (FIG. 4) of respective projections 59, 61 located at the longersides of tray 58, which tray 58 can be detached from the head 2 whenrequired. The debris remains on the top surface of tray 58 until it issucked up the tubes 32, 34 by the vacuum air flow. Openings 60 and 62enable air suction and for debris and dirt from the floor or carpetsurface to be directed to the central debris collection means or tray58. Rollers or ball sockets (alternatively castors, sliders or wheels)64 and 66 allow movement of the underneath side 6 and the head 2 acrossthe surface to be vacuumed or swept. Each of the rollers 64, 66 can tiltor pivot in order to bias the head 2 to one side. Thus, if the head 2 ismoved in one direction, say to the top of the page, for example as seenin FIG. 5C, then the rollers 64, 66 presses inwardly so that the head 2tilts downwardly towards side 14 in the direction of travel.Alternatively, if the head 2 is moved in the opposite direction, say tothe bottom of the page, as seen in FIG. 5C, then the rollers 64, 66presses inwardly so that the head 2 tilts downwardly towards side 12 inthe direction of travel. The head 2 can also tilt downwardly towardsrespective rear side 10 and front side 8, through the correspondingrollers 64, 66 pressing inwardly through side 6. This makes the movementof the head 2 feel lighter to the user. The lowest parts of the head 2are the brushes 42, 44 and rollers 64, 66. As the brushes 42, 44 rotatethey make the head 2 appear to “float” or glide along the surface to becleaned. When the head 2 tilts, either biased towards side 12 or side14, the head 2 floats or drives in that direction. This is achieved dueto the weight of the head 2 being balanced about the swivel joint 30. Aseries of sliders, particularly Teflon sliders, 67 exist near thecorners of the underneath side 6 to make the head 2 travel easily andsmoothly across the surface to be cleaned. FIG. 5D shows respectiveprinted circuit boards 41 and 43 associated with motors 38 and 40.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of the flow of air through the head 2as debris is sucked. The brushes 42 and 44 rotate in opposite directionsand inwards towards the tray 58. The debris is positioned onto the topof the tray 58 and is then sucked upwardly through the tubes 32, 34 andthrough connection means 22 on its way to the external debris storageunit.

The user, instead of performing a forward and backward motion with thevacuum head 2, will move the head 2 from side to side while walkingbackwards in a similar fashion to a mopping motion. This can be with theseries of rod sections directly vertical with respect to the head 2. Theuser (for a right handed person) can place their right hand at a higherposition between waist and shoulder height, while their left hand ispositioned lower down the rod sections at about waist height and thenthe user is able to stand upright and not have to lean over or leanforwardly. The rod sections can be lowered to an angle of 45 degreesaway from the vertical position to reach the end of the mopping motionor for difficult areas that need cleaning. The user is also able tosimply walk behind the device vacuuming in a forward motion and can infact swivel the device in whatever direction needed to clean the floor.

1. A vacuum head comprising: a first brush device and a second brushdevice each located adjacent an underneath side of the vacuum head;motor apparatus for actuating said first brush device to rotate in afirst axial direction and for actuating said second brush device in asecond axial direction, said second axial direction opposite to saidfirst axial direction; such that, in use, as the vacuum head movesacross a surface said first brush device and said second brush devicerotate to position debris from the surface toward the centre of thevacuum head prior to suction of the debris.
 2. A vacuum head accordingto claim 1 wherein said first brush device is adjacent a firstlongitudinal side of the head and said second brush device is adjacent asecond and opposite longitudinal side of the head. 3-14. (canceled) 15.A vacuum head including: a brush device located adjacent an underneathside of the vacuum head; a motor apparatus from actuating said brushdevice such that a first portion of said brush device rotates in a firstaxial direction and a second portion of said brush device rotates in asecond axial direction, said second axial direction being opposite tosaid first axial direction; such that, in use, as the vacuum head movesacross a surface said first portion and said second portion rotate toposition debris from the surface towards the centre of the vacuum headprior to suction of the debris.
 16. A vacuum head according to claim 1further comprising a swivel joint at or about the centre of the top sideof the head for connection to a connector and a handle, said swiveljoint allowing a 360 degree range of motion about an axis through saidconnector and said handle for holding by a user and for conveying debristo be collected from the surface to a debris storage unit.
 17. A vacuumhead according to claim 16 wherein in use said handle extends verticallyfrom the vacuum head.
 18. A vacuum head according to claim 1 whereinsaid first brush device and said second brush device are cylindrical andextend substantially along a longer dimension of the head.
 19. A vacuumhead according to claim 1 wherein the vacuum head is used in aside-to-side motion, with the movement of the head being substantiallyperpendicular to the axes of the respective first and second brushdevice.
 20. A vacuum head according to claim 16 further comprising atube located at said swivel joint for collection of the debris.
 21. Avacuum head according to claim 20 further comprising a debris collectionunit adjacent said tube for collecting debris from each of the brushdevices.
 22. A vacuum head according to claim 1 further comprising apair of openings located on an underneath side of the head in proximityto respective first and second brush devices.
 23. A vacuum headaccording to claim 1 further comprising a pair of rollers that isadapted to tilt or pivot in order to bias the head to one side dependingon the direction of travel of the vacuum head.
 24. A vacuum headaccording to claim 1 wherein said vacuum head, in use, is moved side toside in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of travelof a user of the vacuum head, such movements enabling the user to usethe vacuum head having a substantially upright posture which providesminimal stress on the user's back, head and shoulders.
 25. A vacuum headaccording to claim 1 wherein said motor apparatus includes a first motorfor actuating said first brush device and a second motor for actuatingsaid second brush device.
 26. A vacuum cleaning assembly including thevacuum head of claim 1 and further comprising: a handle, with saidhandle formed as a series of connecting shaft or rod sections.
 27. Avacuum cleaning assembly according to claim 26 wherein said handleextends to shoulder height of the average user.